Three weeks ago Tigers prospect Wilkin Ramirez was playing in the Futures Game for the second time in three years. Today the 24-year-old outfielder was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Jhonny Peralta.
At first glance that series of events makes it seems as though the Tigers just dumped a promising young player for nothing. In reality, it just shows how out of place Ramirez was playing in a game meant to showcase the best prospects in baseball.
Ramirez has good power and speed, averaging 23 homers and 32 steals per 150 games at Double-A and Triple-A, but he’s also hit just .256 with a .322 on-base percentage and an average of 185 strikeouts per 600 plate appearances between those two levels. This year he’s hit .230/.295/.458 with a ghastly 144/32 K/BB ratio in 97 games.
In other words, not all Futures Game participants are created equal.